Snow fence



C. L. BROWN April 7 I931.

SNOW FENCE Original Filed 001;. 15, 1928 flTTOENEX."

Patented Apr. 7, 1931 PATENT OFFICE CHAUNCEY L. BROWN, F NORTHFIELD, MINNESOTA SNOW FENCE Original application filed October 15, 1928, Serial No. 312,610. Patent No. 1,768,974, dated July 1, 1980.

' Divided and this application filed February 5, 1930. Serial No. 426,059.

This invention relates to certain improvements in snow-fences as originally presented in my application for patent Serial Number 312,610 filed October 15th, 1928, now Patent No. 1,7 68,974, July 1, 1980, of which this application is a division.

The object isto provide a snow fence of simple, efiicient construction easily set up or taken down and involving certain details of construction hereinafter fully set forth and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a front view of a section of my improved snow fence in set up operative position. r j

Fig. 2 is an enlarged partly sectional side elevation or edge view of Fig. 1 taken about as on line 22 thereof and revealing also certain bracing means.

Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged detail sectional elevations of the upper part of the fence post brace of my device as seen at line A-A of Fig. 2, the post engaging means shown in 3 engaging a post of L-shape in cross section and an I-bar shape in Fig. 4;.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of one end of a fence rail or slat of the type preferably used in this fence construction.

I will describe herein such parts and details of the invention disclosed in my pending application as necessary to disclose the details of this application which have been deemednecessary to separate from the said first application.

In the drawing 10 represents fence posts set in the ground (Figs. 1 and 2), said posts being set apart at desired distances and all in a preferably inclined plane as shown, said posts being preferably metal and may be angle-iron as 10A in Fig. 3 or I-bar construction as 10B in Fig. 4.

The posts are all inclined with their upper ends away from the road near which the fence is set up, the front faces of said posts prer senting alined areas in a common plane. Each post is provided in its said face with a number of vertically spaced fingers ICE integral with the post and extending outwardly from said face, thence upwardly parallel to the face in bayonet-shape, these fingers being provided only above the normal ground line.

As previously stated, the posts of my improved fence may be of the shapes designated in Figs. 3 and 4 but not limited to such shapes, the features of my invention hereinafter set forth being applicable to posts ofother shapes 1n cross section.

11 are sheet metal slats or bars of the fence, a preferred form of which is covered in my other application but herein improved. Briefly, these slats comprise each a quadrangular elongated piece of sheet iron 11 formed with parallel ridges 11R, preferably one near each of the longitudinal edges of the slat. In spaced relation to the ends of the slats the said ridges terminate and then continue as short ribs 11R at the very end parts, leaving the entire slat in flat condition between adjacent end parts of said ridges, said latter part being designated F (Figs. 1 and 5). In case the slats are long enough to connect three posts of a fence, the said ridges are terminated in spaced relation, or broken, at parts intermediate their ends to provide like flat areas F for mounting on the intermediate post, as the one to the left in Fig. 1.

In setting up the fence rails or slats described they are simply slipped down edgewise so that their fiat parts F rest between the fingers 10F and the adjacent post faces. Continuous slats are provided by simply overlapping the end parts vof adjoining slats as to the right in Fig. 1, the short ridged parts 11R of one slat simply pressing against the corresponding end parts of the ridges 11B of the other slat and the long ridges'of said first slat simply covering up the short ridges 11B 'of the other slat. Obviously there is a cloublethickness of slat metal retained by the fingers 10F of the posts where these parts are connected.

The slats are provided in such widths and so spaced apart vertically on the posts as to present a predetermined area to the elements, the action thereof in snow or sleet storms being such as to break wind currents and cause snow to accumulate in front of the fence and with such fencein parallel spaced relation to a road the snow accumulates at the fence and is prevented from drifting on the road.

In Figs. 2, 3 and 4; I have fully illustrated a fence brace applicable to my improved fence particularly. Said brace comprises a main bar 1ft extending rearwardly and downwardly in an inclined plane from each post to the ground and at the ground level terminating in a horizontally disposed integral loop or eye 14E. In said eye is insertab'lc downwardly a tapered anchor pin 15 adapted to be driven into the ground, said pin having a. head 15H preferably with an aperture 15A. for the purpose of facilitating removal of the pin.

The upper end of each brace bar 14: may be formed in a number of ways to removably engage a post, between slats of the fence or even above the top slat. In a preferred form said upper end may be a fiat-bar hook H in a plane angular to the main bar 14, so as to embrace a post in a transverse plane. This hook is variable in shape to correspond to the type of post. For posts of the type illustrated in Figs. 8 and i. the hook ertremity is formed with a short inwardly curved flange H2 engaging a forward edge of the post, thence the hook is formed straight as at H3 to bear against the forwa d face of the post, thence bent to extend along a side of the post, as H4, and thence bent back about parallel to H3, as at H5 where it merges with the upper end of bar 14. The hook is thus open between the flange H2 and portion H5 so that the brace may be removably engaged with a post by holding it angularly with relation to the post to engage part HQ, then swinging it with its opening toward the post as indicated by arrow 16, Fig. 4. until parts H Hi and H5 are in frictional contact and operative position shown. This method of applying the hook, is to engage it on the post between slats, but it is obvious that if the said hook member is engaged above the top slat of a fence, it may be applied directly in the positions shown in Figs. 3 and 4- on the top end of the post and slipped down toward the top slat (not shown). After thus placing the top end of a brace in semiencircling grip the lower end of it is anchored as described. If a tubular post, not shown, is used the upper grip end of the brace may be made to entirely encircle it or formed with an opening only big enough to allow it to be sprung against and frictionally but removably engage the post.

I claim:

1. In a fence of the class described comprising a series of posts, each provided with a number of vertically spaced fixed fingers directed outwardly, thence upwardly parallel to the post, and a number of horizontally disposed vertically spaced slats adapted to be removably mounted and retained by said fingers; each said slat comprising an elon gated longitudinally ribbed sheet metal member, each provided with a fiat transverse area adjacent its ends and adapted to be slidably and frictionally held in the upright plane of the posts between a finger and the adjacent face of the post, means at the ends of each said slat to prevent disconnection by longi tudinal movement and fence brace means removably secnrable to each said post in spaced relation to the slat members.

The structure specified in claim 1 in which said ribbed parts of the slat comprise longitudinal ridges formed of the metal of the slat, each said ridge terminated in spaced relation to the slat end, said end means comprising for each said long ridge a protrusion formed of the metal at the extremity of the slat.

8. A snow fence comprising a number of upright elongated metal posts fixed with corresponding face surfaces in a common plane of the fence, :1 number of vertically spaced upwardly directed fingers on each post and directed upwardly, all above the normal ground line, the main part of each finger normally parallel to said face, sheet metal fence slats each with reenforcing means at oppo site ends and parallel to its long edges and each slat adapted to be slidably mounted on a post finger, and a brace member with means for remorably engaging each post and extending in inclined plane to the ground and means at the ground end of said brace for securing it to the ground, the upper end of each. said brace comprising a post engaging grip formed integral with the main brace and slidably embracing the post.

4. The structure specified in claim 1 in which said ribbed parts of the slat comprise longitudinal ridges formed of the metal of the slat, each said ridge terminated in spaced relation to the slat end, said end means comprising for each said long ridge :1 short rib at the said end formed in alinement with the long ridge and a counterpart thereof, in cross section, as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CHAUNCEY L. BROVN. 

